Home-Style Dishes
Scallop-Stuffed Hairy Gourd Rounds
A light, savory festive dish featuring sweet dried scallops and tender hairy gourd
Why people make this dish
Every festive season the cupboard fills with dried seafood, and dried scallops are wonderful whether in soup or as a dish. Bro Niu’s habit is to soak the scallops soft, steam them tender, then portion and freeze them so they’re ready whenever needed. For this refined little plate, each whole scallop is tucked into a round of hairy gourd — a light, savory side that lets the scallop’s natural sweetness shine.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- A gentle, light dish suitable for the whole family; lovely as a festive side.
- No special cautions; just be careful when handling the soft, steamed scallops so they don’t fall apart.
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Dried scallops (yao zhu): Naturally sweet and savory, giving the dish its umami without heavy seasoning.
- Hairy gourd (jie gua): Tender and mild, a light vegetable that’s gentle on the stomach and easy to enjoy.
Ingredients (2–3 servings)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Dried scallops | 7 pieces | Soaked, steamed tender |
| Hairy gourd | 1 long one | Peeled, cut into thick rounds |
| Seasoning + thin glaze | to taste |
Method
- Soak the dried scallops soft, remove the hard “pillow” at the side, and tie each loosely with kitchen string so it won’t fall apart. Steam over water for 2 hours until tender, then remove the string.
- Peel the hairy gourd and cut into thick rounds. Stuff a scallop into each round.
- Steam for half an hour. Pour off the liquid, season it lightly, thicken into a thin glaze, and spoon over the top to serve.
Bro Niu’s tips
Each dried scallop has a small, harder “pillow” on the side that won’t chew tender, so remove it before cooking. Don’t throw those pieces away though — they make a tasty addition to soup.
Community questions answered (selected)
- Q (Xiao Bao): Should the scallop “pillow” be removed before soaking? Bro Niu: If you want to save those pillows for soup, remove them before soaking and store them for later use.
Published February 10, 2011 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 2 min read.
